The Greater Reston Arts Center has a new leader.
Lily Siegel is now the center and gallery’s executive director and curator, GRACE announced in a press release earlier today. Siegel is scheduled to begin her new position on Dec. 5.
The center’s former executive director and curator, Holly Koons McCullough, left for the Arlington Arts Center earlier this year.
“Together with the terrific Board of Directors and staff, I will promote that development through a robust exhibition program that includes local and international artists shown side-by-side,” Siegel said in a statement. “We will expand the scope of educational programing, both in regional schools and in the gallery, by emphasizing the promotion of art to enrich community. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will continue to grow by broadening the opportunities for artists and the public to get involved.”
More about the new appointment from GRACE:
Holly Koons McCullough has been appointed the new executive director of the Greater Reston Arts Center.
McCullough,currently the GRACE curator, replaces Damian Sinclair, who recently resigned. She will also maintain her curator responsibilities.
“My goal is to lead GRACE to a position of growth and prosperity, allowing the organization to better serve its mission to enrich community life by promoting involvement and excellence in the visual arts,” McCullough said in a statement.
“I intend to bring in exhibitions that inspire and educate, in addition to promoting Reston as a cultural destination. I also hope to expand the reach of our educational programming that currently serves over 20,000 students in more than 40 schools regionally, and take our highly-anticipated annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival to an even higher level of quality and success.”
McCullough has spent 17 years in the arts. She served as the Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah, GA, in the 15 years prior to her appointment as GRACE’s curator. She managed the Telfair’s permanent collection and 12-16 changing exhibitions annually, was responsible for an extensive curatorial budget and staff of six, and pursued grants and fundraising in support of exhibitions, collections, and acquisitions, GRACE’s board said.
At GRACE, she has scheduled upcoming exhibitions featuring nationally-recognized artists and has proposed collaborative installations beyond the gallery’s walls, cultivating a greater awareness of the center and its mission.
McCullough holds a BA in English and Art History from the University of Georgia and an MA in Art History from the University of Notre Dame. She will assume the Executive Director role Jan. 1.
Damian Sinclair, executive director of Greater Reston Arts Center, resigned his position late last week.
Sinclair, who said he was resigning for personal reasons, headed the organization since January of 2012. Prior to that he held positions as Arts and Events Director at Reston Community Center and Director of Development at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Sinclair’s departure comes at a crucial time for GRACE, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2014. Sinclair was instrumental in implementing the new “40 Forward” program, which is a major fundraising effort, as well as “Generation Next,” an outreach to younger patrons.
GRACE Board Chair Robert Goudie said the board will meet this week to start the process of finding a replacement.
“The vision Damian drove in reorienting GRACE — embodied in the message and success of our 40 Forward campaign — provides a powerful legacy,” said Goudie. “Finding someone who can bring the passion, energy and skills needed to keep moving the vision forward presents GRACE with a steep challenge.”
